The Scabbard- or Frost-fish 



621 



and cast itself up on tlie beach. 

 This happens with tolerable cer- 

 tainty during the autumn and 

 winter months, when the sea is 

 calm and the nights frosty. Then 

 the frost-fish come ashore ali\-e, 

 wriggling through the surf fm 

 to the beach. Two explanations 

 have been offered for this extra- 

 ordinary conduct. One is that 

 the fish commits suicide ; being 

 pursued by a shark or other enemy, 

 it prefers uncertain life on land 

 to certain death at sea ! The 

 other and more probable hypothesis 

 has it that the air-bladder of the 

 fish becomes distended to enable 

 it to reach the surface for food 

 — for it is a deep-sea fish — and 

 that the keen, frosty air prevents 

 it from compressing the bladder 



and returning to the depths ; thus it gradually drifts into shallow water, is hurled shorewards 

 by the surf, and finally wriggles itself on to the beach to die. The long stretches of sandy 

 beach a few miles from Dunedin are a favourite resort for frost-fish catching. Two or three 

 men camp out at the foot of the cliffs overhanging the lieach, pitching a tent and lighting 

 a huge fire, so as to render life bearable during the long vigils. The "fishing" consists in 

 perambulating the beach up and down shortly before dawn, and keeping a sharp look-out in 

 the surf for the silver streak which betokens the approach of a victim. As soon as a fish is 



fhotohij W. Savillc-Kcnt, F.Z.S.] 



FRINGED HORSE-MACKEREL. 

 Note tlie great length of tbe fin-raj 



[MUford-on-S<:a. 



I'hoto bij Jianhold Thidi d; Co.} 



[Cliaiiccri/ Lane, W.& 



HORSE-MACKEREL. 

 The strong keel formed by ridged scales running down eiicb side of the tail is a characteristic feature. 



